Frederick s



l UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK S. GVYEE, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming peut of Letters Patent No. 347,293, dated August 10, 1&86.

Application filed February 24, 1885. Serial No. 156,752. (No modell i To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. GWYER, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerators, of which the following is a specification. v

I have discovered that the thick structures known as refrigerators7 composed of two or more thicknesses of material adapted to afford protection of the contents against the access of heat, can be successfully nested. I make the sides perpendicular, without any projections beyond the .general line of the sides, either in the form of a base-board, cover, or knob. The knobsand Shanks are not applied until after the refrigerators are unpacked or separated. I employ but one cover for each refrigerator, giving it increased thickness in the middle, and hinging it so that it can be turned up into the perpendicular position without-projecting beyond the exterior line of the back. The greater part of the furniture orv interior work for the whole can be stored in the f interior of the innermost refrigerator. I proportion the parts with reference to this mode of stowage.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention. Y

Figure l is a central vertical section showing the refrigerators in the nested condition. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same, the furniture being removed. Fig. 3is` a vertical section of a detail on a larger scale. Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing two forms of refrigerators. They are represented as each elevated relatively to the next, the better to show the arrangement.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures where they occur.

I have represented the nest as composed of three refrigerators, and will so describe it.

A is the largest, B the intermediate, and C the smallest, refrigerator. Certain portions of each willbe designated,when necessary, by additional marks,` as A B.

A beaded groove around each refrigerator at a proper height separates a lower portion, A B O'", from the main body above. This gives theappearance of a base 5 but it is only of the same dimensions as the upper portion. l The cover A2 B2 C2 of each" is of such dimen- ,sions and so applied that it does not overhang. ,It is hinged to the inner instead of the outer edge, and can be thrown into the upright position, yas indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, without extending outside of the boundaryline, and consequently without striking the inclosing-refrigerator. The thickness of each refrigerator is something less than is usual .with refrigerators which are not thus packed. By using good material one and one-half inch to two inches is asufficient thickness for a .goodnon-conducting wall.

The refrigerators A, B, and C are similar in construction each to the' others; but their proportions are different. There is more space allowed within at each end than at the front and back. This is necessary to accommodate the wires at the ends which support the shelves. They require more space than the cleats which extend along the front and back to support the ice-pan. I make the smallest one with the same thickness of wall as the others. In each there is an outer board of some seven-eighths inch,then a layer of felt, then a thin inner board, and a zinc lining. In each there are the usual door, rabbeted, wires, permanently set, supporting removable; shelves, and cleats to support a removable icepan, A3 B3, &c. A knob and shank for operating each door A4 Bl C4 is furnished with each, but not connected. Each knob and shank is placed in theinterior of C.

All the parts being prepared and the cover refrigerator, A,is opened and the intermediate refrigerator, B, is lowered into it, the ice-pan therefor beingv rst placed in the bottom of the interior of A. Then the cover B'l of the refrigerator B is raised and the refrigerator C is lowered into it. Then the cover C2 of the refrigerator G is raised and the ice-pan of C and the shelves of all the refrigerators are placed inside, as also the feet and shanks and knobs for all. Then closing C, B, .and A in succession and securing them, as a final step I secure the ice-pan of A to the exterior of the bottom of A, and the whole nest is ready for storage or shipment` either with or without a cheap packing-case for protection.

The invention is intended, mainly, to facili@ being properly hinged to each body, the largest tate packing and transportation, it being understood that the refrigerators are to be separated when used; but in ease all three are purchased by one party, and a less number is required, or in case an intensely-hot climate and a scarcity of ice shall render such a course expedient, all three or any two of the refrigerators may be usedin their nested conditionthat is to say, the furniture may be introduced only in the smaller, which remains within the other refrigerators, and the ice and other contents are introduced in the inner refrigerator. In such case all the bodies are available as nonconductors at the sides and bottoni, and all the covers are available as non-conductors at the top.

Modifications may be made in the details'. It will be understood that points not described may be of the ordinary construction. The icepan may be made non-conducting in the ordinary mannerand slanted back, as usual. The drain-pipe for each may be as usual. By a little care in the proportioniug, all the furniture except the ice pans of the largest and niedium refrigerators will pack in the inside of the smallest.

The invention will apply to ice-chests, by which I mean that forin of construction in which there is no door-opening through the front, and all articles are introduced and removed through the top.

I am aware that boxes and other receptacles have been before constructed of regularl varying sizes and adapted to be nested one within another in regular series. My invention contemplates more than this. I provide such a difference in size between the intermediate refrigerators that room is left for theicepan of each between it and the next outside refrigerator. The ice-pan of each, except the innermost refrigerator, is packed outside of its respective refrigerator. tant feature lies in the hiuging of the lids upon the inner edge ot' each refrigerator, whereby the lids of the entire series may be raised when the refrigerators are nested.

What I claim as new is y Y l. A series of refrigerators with hinged lids nested together, the outer one having its icepan secured upon its exterior' bottom,to leave its interior free to receive the next smaller re.- frigerator and its ice-pan, the inner refrigerator of the series being of a size to correspond with the interior of the next larger refrigerator, and carrying its ice-pan in its i nterior, and the other refrigerators of theseries being received with their ice-pans within the next larger refrigerator, as set forth.

2. A series of refrigerators of di fferent sizes, nested together as described, and having lids hinged upon the inner edges7 whereby all the lids may be opened while the refrigerators are nested, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, New York, this 31st day of January, 1885, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

M. F. BoYLn, CHA Rims R. SEA nur.

Another impor- 

